Hopper-door mechanism.



V. M. SUMMA.

HOPPER DOOR MECHANISM;

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@ 4 Q/MW ATTORN EV Patented May 26, 191i 1 I V E l O R v Karim-1V} 624212 ma UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- VICTOR 1!. sum, on ST, LOUIS, MIlSSOURI, Assrsnon T AMER CAN can AND FOUNDRY comm, or s'r. Louis,- MISSOURI, A. CORPORATION for NEW To all whom-it may concern Be it. known that I, Vrcrox M. Sui/mix, residing at 915 Olive street, St. Louis, Missouri, and being a citizen" of the United "States, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Hopper-Door Mecha n'ism,. being for the same invention asthat shown inmy application Serial No; 559,653,

= filed May 5, 1910, and of which the follow- =ing is'a full,'c'lear, and exact. description,

suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and to use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred form-of the invention, though it is T to be'lmderstood that the invention is not to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that "various 'modificatlons thereof will occur to persons skilled the art.

In. said drawings:,Figure l'isa fragmentary view, partly in vertical, longitudinal section and partly in side elevation of a car embodying the features of the presentinvention. -Fig. 2 is a transversevertica-l central section taken on aplane. indicated by line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig.'3 is a diagrammatic view showing a slight modification.

While it is obvious that the present improved door and door operating mechanism are applicable to hopper cars of any type,

I findit convenient to illustrate the same as applied to a double. hopper car' having twin or laterally juxtaposed hoppers.

Referring. to the-drawings by numerals,

-. 1- 1 are the side sheets of the hoppers through which extend transversely arranged rock shafts 22, said shafts being journaled bearings 3-3. fixed to said sheets. 40

.pers. The hoppers are disposed at each side of the center sills, and said side hopper-sheets serve as supports for the doors or valves employed to close the discharge ports of the hoppers.

There are 'shown in the accompanying drawings four such side hopper sheets, two of 'which' serve as depending continuations 1 of the supporting side plate girders 1 of the car, and two inner side hopper-sheets no'rrnmnoon mncnnuism.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 20; 1912. Serial No. name.

Patented May 2c, 1914.

the longitudinal hood 4;

- The uxtaposed double hoppers aresepa- 1" which serve as depending extensions of I rated by'tlie usual longitudinal hood 4, and.

each is divided into its two hoppers by transverse hood 5, each hopper being completed by the side sheets 1, and the bottom inclinedplates 6' 6. Each .inclined plate 6'is spaced from the lower edge of therespective sideof hood 5, leaving a door-way adapted to be closed by a door 7, comprislng an upwardly and inwardly convexed sheet '8, having outwardly turned edge flanges 12 fixed to the: segmental sheets 9,

l referred to. Each sheet 9 tapers away from the hopper, and. is flanged along its ,uppe and lower edges and stilfened along its lower edge by a flat bar 11 riveted to the .sheet. Plate 8 is flanged at its lower edge 8, and a vertically disposed stiffening plate 13 is, arranged intermediate the length of.

which are disposed next adjacent thesheets' plate 8 with its outer edge flanged and contacting with the plate and riveted thereto.

Thus the door? is segmental in its general posed toward and normally closing the hopper door-day.- It is, of course, obvious that the curvature of such face may be varied when desired, as for instance by forming the same with approximately an involute curve,

which, in operation as hereinafter described,

would cause the face plate 8to recede from friction thereof. (See Fig. 3).

Each plate 6 an angle 14:, which extends continuously across the lower edge of said plates 6, and the lower edge of each transverse hood 5 is also stiffened by an angle 15.

'- Each door 7 is fixed to its respective shaft face ex-- I underhangs the lower edge of the respective door 7 and is stiffened by the lading as it moves upwardly and thus materially lessen the respective shaft 2 to the plateS and riveted to plate 13 midway of the length thereof. I s

The shafts 2 extend continuously through the innerand'outer side hopper-sheets 1 and 1, and the bearings 3 forsaid shafts are Y members 1- and 30.

55" sheets 6, thereby providing an secured directly to said side hopper-sheets, which sheets depend below the plane of the center sills 19 of the car to provide for the load in discharging and also as supports'for the door operating mechanisn'n The bar 16 of each door is engaged intermediate its length by an operating chain 17 extending, upwardly and being fixed "to an operating shaft 18 which passes through the sideplates ofthe" hopper andthrough the center sills 19 of ,the car," the shaft 18 being jo-urnaled in bearings 20-20 .fixed to the outer side plates of the hopper and to the webs of the center sills. The ends of the shaft 18 are provided with ratchet wheels 21, each adapted to be engaged by a pawl 22 for locking the shaft at times against rotation, the extreme ends, of the shaft extending-beyondthe wheelsand being formed with polysided portions'23 for receiving operating tools. v

Extending transversely of the. car-is an I -sect'ion 30 which passes through openings in the innerside hopper sheets. 1 1 and is connected therewith by means .of angle brackets 31 riveted-respectively to the said nected with the outer side hopper sheets 1 by means of similar angle brackets 32, the,

section 30 terminating within said outer side.

hoppersheets, thus serving as a stiffening member connecting and effectually bracing the said side hopper sheets below the center 30 is connected to the said center sills by rivets 33, Fig. 2.

In operation, assuming the parts to be in position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1,

to discharge the load, it is only necessary toapply operating tools to the portions 23 and revolve shaft-18, resulting in taking up chains'l7 and thus swinging the doors 7 upwardly on their pivotal mountings to, the position indicated in dotted 22 are released from their-ratchet-wheels 21 and the chains paid out as the doors move by gravity to their lower or closed positions.

It. isto benoted that the underhanging portions of plates 6 afford stops for the doors.

load, the- To facilitate the discharge of the transverse hoods tudinally of the tween contiguous edges of the inclined increased oor opening through which the load will more quickly pass than if the holes were coextensive with the space between said sheets 6.

The shafts 2'extend through the side hopper-sheets and are nally of the car, and the sheets'6 terminate 5 are of less length longiat .a considerable distance apart so asto pro- 1 vide a maximum discharge opening for the load and to per itthe relatively large doors to come to full open position beneath the Sald section 30 is con;

lines in Fig. 1.- v After the discharge of the lading, the pawls 45 car than the distance be spaced apart longitudi adapted to receive lng away from tlie hopper', an

vtion with pivotally a. transverse hood,

1. A hopper door comprising a, convex plate, segmental sideplates connected to the ends of the convex plate, 'a stiffening plate length thereof, stiffening bars extending along. the loweredges of the segmental plates and fixed thereto, and'a bar intermediate the length of the. convex plate fixed to the stiffening plate, the ends of said bars. fart-hermost from the segmental plate being a pivotal mounting for the door.

the convex plate intermediate the 2. In a hopper bot-tom car, the combination with a hopper of a door for closing the same, comprising a convex plate, segmental plates fixed to the ends thereof and taperstifi'ening plate fixed to the convex plate, bars fixed to-the end plates and an intermediate bar fixed to the stiffening plate, a.

said door, a shaft journaled above the pivot shaft, and flexible means directly connecting said 'journaled shaft to the intermediate bar of the door.

3. In a hopper car, a hopper comprising a transverse hood, vertical side hoppersheets and inclined floor sheets, in combination with pivotally movable gravity closing doors supported by said side hopper-sheets, and 'means extending below said hood through some of open position.

4. In a hopper car, a hopper comprising atransverse hood, vertical side hoppersheets and inclined floor sheets, in combina movable gravity closing doors supported by said side hopper-sheets, a center'sill, an operating shaft extending through said center sill below said hood, and flexible connections from said operating shaft for liftingsaid doors to open position.

5. In a hopper car, a hopper comprising vertical side hoppersheets and inclined floor sheets, in combination with pivoted gravity closing doorsrock shafts therefor supported by said side hopper-sheets, a center sill, an operating shaft extending'through said sill and supported thereby at a plurality of places below said hood, and flexible means extending from said shaft to. said doors. v6. In a hopper car, a hopper comprising a transverse hood, vertical side hopper-sheets and inclined floor sheets, in combination with gravity closing doors supported by said side hopper-sheets, and a transverse supporting member extending through some of said side hopper-sheets, a. center sill, an operating shaft protected by said hood and extending intermediate v .90 pivot shaft engaging the tapered end. of

the side hopper-sheets for lifting said doors to closin oaves:

through said sill and said side hopper-sheets, said operating shaft' and means connecting and said doors.

7. In-a hopper car, a hopper comprising a transverse hood, vertical side hopper sheets and inclined. floorsheets, in combination with rock shafts and pivoted gravity closing.

doors on said rock shafts supported by said side hopper-sheets, center sills spaced apart,-

an operatlng shaftsupported at intervals by said spaced sills and extending through some of said side hopper-sheets,.and means for lifting said doors from saidshaft to position below said hood, the shaft and liftingmeans being protected by said'jtransv'erse hood.

8.'In a hop er car, a center sill, a trans-:

versely exten ing hood, side hopper-sheets and inclined floor sheets cooperating with said hopper-sheets, a shaft supported at a plurality of places by said sill, said shaftbeing protected by the hood, a gravity closing door pivotally supported on said hoppersheets, and a fiexibleconnection from the shaft to. the door adapted to open the door. 9. In a hopper car,'a center sill, spaced side hopper-sheets, spaced '[inclined floor sheets connected with the hopper sheets and.

connected by said hopper-sheets across. the

space between said inclined sheets-gravity doors supported bysaid inclined floor s eets when the doors are closed, ivot per-sheets, a shaft supported at*interva'ls by said sill, and a connection between said shaft lift the doors to.

mountings for said doors carried by the opand the doors adapted-to open position. 1

10. In a hopper car, spaced longitudinallyextending side hopper-sheets, .a transversely .extending hood, inclined floor sheetsconnected withsaid hoppersheets, gravity clos ing doors pivotally connected w th said hopper-sheets intermediate the said floor sheets and adapted to close the openingbetween the hood and floor sheets, and door- 'opening' means protected by said hood. I v

11. In a hopper car, tra'nsv,ersely splacedlongitudinally extending side hopper s e inclined floor sheets connected to and spanned by s'aid'hopper-sheets, said floor sheets being spaced apart longitudinally of the car, pivoted gravity closing doors posi- [tioned intermediate the hopper-sheets and intermediate the inclined'fio'or sheets, rock shafts on which said doors are rockable,. means positionedbetween the doors'for mo'ving said doors to open position, and a transversely extending hood protecting the meansfor moving said doors. Y

12. In a hopper car, a double twin hopper having parallel inner and outer side hopper sheets, shaft bearings secured to each of said sheets, shafts insaid bearings, segmental doors mounted on said shafts, an operating shaft extended through some of said hopper sheets, flexible connections from said operatdoors to'open position.

ing shaft to .saiddobrs, and altiansverse hood adapted to cover 'said doors when they .1

are in open position.

13.. In a hopper car, center sills, a hopper having relatively vertical side hopper-sheets, a door supporting shaftand a door operatbetween said inclined.

sheets and supported in closed position'by converging inclined floor-sheets secured di-. 7' rectly thereto, pivoted doors closing by grav-' itypositioned between saidfinclined floor sheets and between .said side hopper-sheets and, supported in closed position by all 'of said sheets, means for lifting said doors to position.

1 versely open position, and a transversely extending hood adapted to'cover said doors and door-- lifting means when. the are in open 16. Ina

hoppers spaced longitudinally of, said'sil v pericar, a center sill, a transexten' ing hood intersecting said silli comprising inclined flOOlr'ShBGlSS and .1ongi-..,

tudinally extending side hopper-sheets spanf:

ning the space between said inclined floor hopper-sheets, shafts in said bearings, doorsv adapted to'close by gravity mounted on said shafts and extending from said inclined floor-sheets to the hood, :1. door lifting shaft" 7 =in'te 'osed between the doors below the hood, 1101 and exible means extending upwardly from the doors-t0 said lifting shaft.

17 The herein described selfdumping coal 'car comprising a car body having an inclined bottom, "a hood extending transversely 'ofthe car,the loweredge of the hood sheets, shaft bearings secured to-saidside being spaced from the bottom-to form a discharge chute, an arc-shaped valve .piv-

otglly mounted below the hood and resting normally upon said bottom closing said chute, center sills, a transverse shaft extending through-said sills below the hood, and

a flexible connection between the valve and the shaft, whereby onrotation of the shaft the valve will be liftedto open the discharge chute. Y

18. The herein described car comprising.

center sills, a bodyhaving inclined ttom sections spaced from each .other'longitudis nally and transversely of the car, a transverse hood above said space within the car,

lower edges 01 the hood being spaced "fromsaid bottom sections to form versely of the pivoted on said discharge pivot shafts extending transstructure, a series of valvesv shafts and resting normally chutes, spaced .upon said bottom sections and movable upsurface exposedtoward an opening of theedge of elevating the door to I i said door the hood, an 1 said pivot shaft and .19

Xbetweeni the operating hopper for closing .thesame, the bottom wall of-the hoppcrextending beneath the lower the door for 'limitingldownward movement thereof, center sills, a shaft-for a position out of the hopper opening extending through said center sills, and connections from the shaft to I 20. In a hopper car, a center sill, a plu rality of spaced longitudinally extending to be protected'thereby, .able gravity closing doors adapted to' be side hopper-sheets, a reinforcing member connected to said silland, to said hopper sheets, a transverse hood intersecting said sill above said reinforcing. member, door lifting means below' said hood and adapted and a pairof rockoperated by said door-lifting means. 21; In aho'pper ca'r,-a center sill, a lurali'ty of spaced longitudinally, exte'n ing side hopper-sheets, a continuous reinforcing member connected to said'sill and to said hopper-sheets, a transverse'hood intersectiilg sa'id' 'sill and some of said hopper-sheets above porting rock shafts and below said hood and'adapted to be protected said reinforcing member, door 'supdoor-lifting means thereby, and apair of rockable gravity closing doors adapted to be operated byosaid ifting means. I

In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set -my-hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

' MMA.

VICTOR M. SU Witnesses:

. OSCAR HOCHBERG, ALVARO MENDEZ. 

